Youth Garden Project Executive Director Delite Primus shows the web page that indicates YGP is a winner in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good giveaway. The Moab-based nonprofit will receive its new vehicle sometime in the next few months. Courtesy photo

The Youth Garden Project will soon be riding in style after being selected as one of 100 nonprofits in the country to receive a new Toyota vehicle during Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good giveaway contest.

YGP Executive Director Delite Primus said a friend first brought the Toyota giveaway to her attention and she submitted an application. In mid-August, Primus was informed that a review panel had selected YGP as one of the contest’s 250 finalists from a total of 2,500 applicants. The finalists were selected “based on their experience in the areas of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility,” according to the program’s website.

Finalists were selected based on their needs and how much of an impact the vehicle would have on their program. The contest also tries to represent a broad geographic spectrum, and this year there were finalists from all 50 states, according to the website.

Though Primus learned YGP was selected as a finalist in August, a confidentiality agreement precluded the organization from making its selection public until mid-September. At that time, YGP was finally able to start talking about the program, Primus said.

The contest began Oct. 1 and will continue through Nov. 19. Each day, Toyota posts five finalists, and members of the public cast votes via their Facebook page for two nonprofit groups out of that day’s five. The two nonprofits with the highest number of votes at the end of the day are awarded cars. Voting for YGP took place on Oct. 20. The next day Primus received the news that YGP was one of the two winners. The group placed second in the Oct. 20 voting, according to the contest website.

YGP will be able to choose between a Toyota Highlander, Prius, Sienna, Sienna Mobility or Tundra.

“We’re going to use it in our day-to-day operations,” Primus said. “We’ll use it to transport produce, plants and tools.”

Primus said YGP might also use the vehicle for transportation if the opportunity presents itself.

“We may use it to take interns on more educational field trips,” she said. “We’re going to use it in whatever way we can to enhance the program.”

Primus said the nonprofit was told that it will be contacted by a representative from Toyota after the giveaway is over in mid-November, so it will still be several weeks before staff members find out when the new car will be delivered. The contest website states that winners will receive their vehicles within 150 days of completion of the prize acceptance form.

Primus said YGP could not have won the contest without the help of local supporters.

“We are incredibly grateful for all the support from the Moab community in making this happen,” Primus said. “It’s amazing.”

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